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In Planta Evidence for the Involvement of a Ubiquitin Conjugating Enzyme (UBC E2 clade) in Negative Regulation of Disease Resistance

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Abstract

One of the three main components of the ubiquitylation system is an ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme (UBC, E2) that attaches ubiquitin (Ub) to a substrate. A strong link has been discovered between ubiquitylation and regulation of plant defense responses against plant pathogens. In this study, the role of UBC in response to pathogen attack is investigated in Arabidopsis thaliana as it has three Ubc gene homologs (Ubc1-1, Ubc2-1, and Ubc3-1). Analysis of single mutants of these three Ubc genes revealed enhanced disease resistance. Moreover, virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) analysis revealed an enhanced level of resistance of Nicotiana benthamiana following inoculation with avirulent Pto DC3000 and virulent Pto DC3000 hopQ1-1 strains. In addition, RAR1, SGT1, and HSP90 mRNA levels are up-regulated following Ubc2 silencing. This study shows that UBC2 negatively regulates disease resistance via SGT1 level. Sub-cellular localization assay of UBC2 protein indicates its nuclear and cytoplasmic localization in planta.

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Acknowledgments

This study was partially supported by Turkish Academy of Science (TUBA) for post doctoral research program (DSAP).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biological Sciences and Bioengineering Program, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabanci University, Istanbul, Turkey

    Turgay Unver, Mine Turktas & Hikmet Budak

  2. Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Cankiri Karatekin University, Cankiri, Turkey

    Turgay Unver

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  1. Turgay Unver
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Correspondence to Hikmet Budak.

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Unver, T., Turktas, M. & Budak, H. In Planta Evidence for the Involvement of a Ubiquitin Conjugating Enzyme (UBC E2 clade) in Negative Regulation of Disease Resistance. Plant Mol Biol Rep 31, 323–334 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11105-012-0502-y

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